Laundry apparatus and method of laundering

ABSTRACT

In order in the laundering of articles of clothing to improve the draining of water therefrom and hence to enhance the damp drying of the articles of clothing the articles of clothing are operatively disposed within a perforated inner basket which is rotatably mounted within a pressurizable outer casing, the basket being rotated, with resultant extraction of water from the articles of clothing as the articles of clothing are urged outwardly against the walls of the basket under centrifugal force, by the action of atmospheric air directed by an air supply system against vanes presented by the basket, with this atmospheric air serving to increase the static pressure within the pressurizable casing and thereby forcibly expel water through a drain in the casing.

United States Patent [191 Hooper 1 Feb. 18, 1975 LAUNDRY APPARATUS ANDMETHOD OF LAUNDERING [76] Inventor: Charles Ernest Hooper, 1353Blackwell Rd., Sarnia, Ontario, Canada N7T 7H4 [22] Filed: Nov. 26, 1973[21] Appl. No.: 418,992

Primary Examiner-John J, Camby Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Ridout & Maybee[5 7] ABSTRACT In order in the laundering of articles of clothing toimprove the draining of water therefrom and hence to enhance the dampdrying of the articles of clothing the articles of clothing areoperatively disposed within a perforated inner basket which is rotatablymounted within a pressurizable outer casing, the basket being rotated,with resultant extraction of water from the articles of clothing as thearticles of clothing are urged outwardly against the walls of the basketunder centrifugal force, by the action of atmospheric air directed by anair supply system against vanes presented by the basket, with thisatmospheric air serving to increase the static pressure within thepressurizable casing and thereby forcibly expel water through a drain inthe casing.

16 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDFEB '1 1915 SHEET 10F 3 FIG. 3

LAUNDRY APPARATUS AND METHOD OF LAUNDERING This invention is concernedwith laundry apparatus, and more particularly with such apparatus bymeans of which articles such as, for example, articles of clothing maybe damp dried after washing thereof. The present invention is alsoconcerned with a method of laundering by which articles such as, forexample, articles of clothing may be damp dried after washing thereof.

Apparatus according to the present invention is of the type in whichthere is provided a container at least a portion of which is rotatablymounted, with members which are presented by said portion of thecontainer operatively causing rotation thereof under the influence of asupply of gas directed against the members by a gas supply system. Suchrotation of said portion of the container causes the articles ofclothing or the like, which are operatively disposed within said portionof the container, to be urged outwardly against the walls of saidportion of the container under the influence of centrifugal forcethereby to cause liquid which is entrained in the articles of clothingto be extracted therefrom for draining from the container. There aremany prior patents disclosing apparatus of this type, reference in thisconnection being made to, for example, US. Pat. No. 2,201,685 whichissued on May 21, 1940 to B. L. Lorenzen.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide laundryapparatus of the type hereinbefore referred to, and a method oflaundering, in which the draining of the liquid from the container isimproved and hence the damp drying of the articles of clothing or thelike is enhanced.

Laundry apparatus according to the present invention comprises anenclosable pressurizable container which has a drain provided thereinand at least a portion of which is rotatably mounted, members beingpresented by said portion of the container for causing rotation thereofunder the influence of a gas directed against said members. There isalso provided a source of gas external of the container, and a gassupply system for supplying gas from said source thereof against saidmembers presented by said portion of the container to rotate saidportion of the container, and for directing said gas from said memberspresented by said portion of the container into the pressurizablecontainer to increase static pressure therewithin for expulsion ofliquid from the container through the drain.

A method of laundering according to the present invention comprisessupplying gas from a source thereof external of an enclosable,pressurizable container against members presented by at least a portionof the container to rotate said portion of the container, and directingsaid gas from said members presented by said portion of the containerinto the pressurizable container to increase static pressure therewithinfor expulsion of liquid from the container through a drain providedtherein.

It will be noted that the aforementioned patent to Lorenzen disclosesmeans for increasing the static pressure within the base compartment 3in order to expel water from this compartment. However, according to theteaching of Lorenzen the airflow which causes'this increase in staticpressure within the base compartment 3 is a different airflow from thatwhich causes rotation of the structure corresponding to said portion ofthe pressurizable container of the present invention.

Preferably the laundry apparatus, and the method of laundering,according to the present invention provide for washing of the articlesof clothing or the like in an operational cycle which is separate anddistinct from the operational cycle in which the aforedescribed dampdrying of the articles of clothing or the like is performed.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood and morereadily carried into effect the same will now, by way of example, bemore fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings inwhich FIG. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic side view of laundry apparatusaccording to a first preferred embodiment of the invention, portions ofthe apparatus being shown, for clarity, in section;

FIG. 2 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 of laundry apparatus accordingto a second preferred embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a top plan view, partially broken away for clarity, of thelaundry apparatus shown in FIG. 2, the view being taken on the line 3-3in FIG. 2.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, 10 denotesgenerallya pressurizable container which comprises an outer casing l land an inner basket 12 provided with perforations 13. The basket 12 isopen at the top end 14 thereof, while the outer casing 11 has aremovable cover lid 15 by means of which the top end of the casing 11may be closed in a substantially fluid-type manner. The outer rimportion of the cover lid 15 is provided with an annular sealing gasket16 formed of a resiliently deformable material, such as rubber, clamps17 being provided for urging this outer rim portion of the cover lid 15downwardly as viewed in FIG. 1 thereby to cause the cover lid 15 toenter into substantially fluid-tight sealing engagement with the top endof the casing 11 and thus render the container 10 in a pressurizablecondition. 18 denotes a handle which is presented by the cover lid 15and by means of which the lid l5 may be removed to permit articles suchas, for example, articles of clothing (not shown) to be disposed withinand removed from the basket 12 when the clamps 17 are loosened andremoved.

The bottom wall 19 of the casing 11 presents a support member 20 whichis of conical form, the bottom wall of the basket 12 presenting abearing block 21 having a conical recess within which the apex portionof the support member 20 is disposed so that the basket 12 is thusmounted for free rotation thereof within the casing 11 about thesubstantially vertical axis 22 containing the apex of the support member20. Guide rollers 23 are freely rotatably mounted on the wall of thebasket 12 adjacent to the top end 14 thereof, these guide rollers 23being substantially in contact with the inner surface of the wall of thecasing 11 thereby to In the preferred embodiment of the invention shownin FIG. 1 there is provided a first gas supply system comprising a firstcontrol valve 25, a gas blower 26 which is operatively driven by anysuitable prime mover such as, for example, an electric motor (notshown), and a second control valve 27, the outlet of the first controlvalve 25 being connected by a duct 28 to the inlet of the gas blower 26and the outlet of the gas blower 26 being connected by a duct 29 to theinlet of the second control valve 27. The first gas supply system alsocomprises a duct 30 one end of which is connected to the upper portionof the interior of the container 10, and more particularly to the upperportion of the interior of the casing 11, and the other end of which isselectively connectible to the inlet of the first control valve 25. Inaddition, the first gas supply system comprisesa duct 31 one end ofwhich is selectively connectible to the outlet of the second controlvalve 27 and the other end of which is connected to the lower portion ofthe interior of the container 10, and more particulary to the lowerportion of the interior of the casing 11.

The support member 20 is provided with apertures 32 through which gas,and more particulary air, may operatively be supplied to the body ofliquid 33 within the container 10, this air passing through theperforations 13 in the bottom wall of the basket 12 into the interior ofthe basket 12 and thence bubbling upwards through the body of liquid 33to the space above this body of liquid 33 at the upper portion of theinterior of the casing 11.

There is also provided a second gas supply system which comprises theabove-described first control valve 25, the gas blower 26, the secondcontrol valve 27 and the ducts 28 and 29. This second gas supply systemfurther comprises a duct 34 one end of which is connected to a source ofgas external of the container and which, in the preferred embodimentillustrated in FIG. I, is constituted by the atmosphere, and the otherend of which is selectively connectible to the inlet of the firstcontrol valve 25. A further duct '35 is also provided, one end of thisduct 35 being selectively connectible to the outlet of the secondcontrol valve 27 and the outer end of the duct 35 being connected to thecontainer 10, and more particularly to the interior of the casing 11,such that gas, and more particularly air, operatively supplied throughthis duct 35 is directed against the vanes 24 thereby to cause rotationof the basket 12 about the axis 22.

A drain 36 is provided in the container 10 and more particulary in thecasing 11, this drain 36 being constituted, in the preferred embodimentshown in FIG. 1, by the end portion of the duct 31 which is connected tothe lower portion of the interior of the casing 11. The drain 36 isconnected by piping 37 to a suitable sump or sewer (not shown), a ventpipe 38 which is open to the atmosphere being connected to the piping37. 39 denotes a sevice drain cock which is provided in the piping 37.

As will be appreciated, each of the first and second control valves 25and 27, respectively, is a two-position valve with these valves 25 and27 either being in the positions in which air may be supplied from theupper portion of the interior of the casing 11 through the first gassupply system to the lower portion of the interior of the casing 11, orin the positions in which air may be supplied from the atmospherethrough the second gas supply system to the container 10 and against thevanes 24 thereby to cause rotation of the basket 12 about the axis 22.The valves 25 and 27 may be constituted by, for example, solenoidoperated vavles or by pneumatically operated valves.

Except as hereinafter described the embodiment of the inventionillustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 corresponds to that hereinbefore describedwith reference to FIG. 1, and in FIGS. 2 and 3 elements corresponding tothose described above with reference to FIG. 1 are denoted by the samereference numerals but with the addition of prime marks.

The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 differs from thathereinbefore described with references to FIG. 1 in that the closure lid15 is hingedly mounted at 40 to one side of the outer casing 11'.Furthermore, whereas in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 the vanes 24 arepresented by the basket 12 adjacent to the bottom thereof and arelocated adjacent to the bottom of the casing 11, in the embodiment shownin FIGS. 2 and 3 the vanes 24 are presented by the basket 12' adjacentto the top thereof and are located within an annular recessed portion41' formed at the top of the casing 11', the end of the duct 35 remotefrom the second control valve 27 being, of course, so disposed that airsupplied through this duct 35' is directed against the vanes 24 to causerotation of the basket 12' about the axis 22.-

Instead of the support member 20 and the bearing block 21 shown in FIG.1 the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is provided with a socket member42 which is secured to the bottom wall of the basket 12' with a verticalpost 43' being disposed within the member 42 and being mounted on adeflector plate 44 which is secured over the appropriate end of the duct31, spaced bearings 45 being disposed within the member 42' and aroundthe post 43' thereby to permit free rotation of the member 42 and henceof the basket 12' relative to the post 43-about the axis 22'. A thrustblock 46' is disposed within the upper end of the member 42 with athrust ball 47' disposed between this block 46' and the upper end of thepost 43. Apertures 48' are provided in the end of the duct 31 within theinterior of the 'casing 11' and below the plate 44.

Referring to both the apparatus as hereinbefore described with referenceto FIG. 1 and the apparatus as hereinbefore described with reference toFIGS. 2 and 3, when it is desired to use the apparatus the cover lid 15or 15' is opened and the articles of clothing or the like which are tobe laundered are disposed within the basket 12 or 12'. The body ofliquid 33 or 33' is also disposed within the container 10 or 10',whereupon the closure lid 15 or 15' is closed and, with the firstcontrol valve 25 or 25' in the position in which the inlet thereof isconnected to the duct 30 or 30 and with the second control valve 27 or27' in the position in which the outlet thereof is connected to the duct31 or 31', the gas blower 26 or 26 is then energized to cause air to bewithdrawn from the upper portion of the interior of the container 10 or10', and more particularly the upper portion of the interior of thecasing 11 or 11', through the first gas supply system to the lowerportion of the interior of the container 10 or 10', and moreparticularly the lower portion of the interior of the casing 11 or 11'and hence to the lower portion of the interior of the basket 12 or 12'.The air in bubbling upwards through the body of liquid 33 or 33' in thebasket 12 or 12' causes considerable agitation of this body of liquid 33or 33 with the result that the articles of clothing or the like disposedtherein are thoroughly washed. It will be noted that during this washingoperation the air which causes the agitation of the body of liquid 33 or33 is air which has been withdrawn from the upper portion of theinterior of the casing 11 or 11', so that this air is thereforerelatively warm and the body of liquid 33 or 33 which will generally bea warm or hot liquid is not significantly cooled by the bubbling of theair therethrough.

Once this washing cycle has been completed the first control valve 25 or25' is moved to the position in which the inlet thereof is connected tothe duct 34 or 34, and the second control valve 27 or 27 is moved to theposition in which the outlet thereof is connected to the duct 35 or 35'.Thereafter, operation of the gas blower 26 or 26 causes atmosphereic airto be supplied through the second gas supply system to the container or10' and against the vanes 24 or 24 thereby to cause rotation of thebasket 12 or 12 about the axis 22 or 22 with resultant urging of thearticles of clothing or the like outwards against the walls of thebasket 12 or 12' under the influence of centrifugal force so that liquidentrained in the articles or clothing or the like is extractedtherefrom. This air which is supplied to the container 10 or 10accumulates within the upper portion of the interior of the casing 11 or11' above the level of the body of liquid 33 or 33. Since this upperportion of the interior of the casing 11 or 11 is an enclosed space inthat the closure lid or 15 is in the closed condition and the firstcontrol valve 25 or 25 prevents the escape of air through the duct or30' there is a resultant increase in the static pressure within thisupper portion of the interior of the casing 11 or 11, this increase instatic pressure serving forcibly to expel the body of liquid 33 or 33through the drain 36 or 36' and the piping 37 or 37' to the sump orsewer (not shown).

The above-described forcible expulsion of the body of liquid 33 or 33'from the container 10 or 10, which as hereinbefore described resultsautomatically during the rotation of the basket 12 or 12' under theinfluence of atmospheric air directed by the second gas supply systemagainst the vanes 24 or 24, substantially increases the rate at whichthe liquid is removed from the articles of clothing or the like and thussubstantially enhances this damp drying cycle. The body of liquid 33 or33' is generally constituted by water containing a detergent composition. Thus, after the damp drying cycle the closure lid 15 or 15'may be opened, a further body of liquid 33 or 33 constituted by cleanwater introduced, the closure lid 15 or 15' reclosed, and the dampdrying cycle repeated. This procedure may be repeated as often as isdesired in order to rinse any residue of the detergent composition fromthe articles of clothing or the like.

Since the required rate for supplying air through the first gas supplysystem during the washing cycle will generally be substantially lessthan the desired rate for supplying air through the second gas supplysystem during the damp drying cycle the gas blower 26 or 26' ispreferably a twospeed blower with the blower 26 or 26 being at the lowerspeed setting during the washing cycle and at the higher speed settingduring the damp drying cycle.

In addition to the wash cycle and damp drying cycle as hereinbeforedescribed apparatus according to the present invention may, if desired,have a drying cycle which would, of course, operatively follow the dampdrying cycle. In such a drying cycle air is supplied from the atmospherethrough the second gas supply system to the interior of the casing 11 or11 and hence to the interior of the basket 12 or 12' as in the case ofthe damp drying cycle hereinbefore described, but during this dryingcycle an air heater (not shown) which would be incorporated in thesecond gas supply system, and preferably in the duct 34 or 34', isactivated in order operatively to heat the air flowing therethrough.

While in the preferred embodiments of the invention as hereinbeforedescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings the pressurizablecontainer 10 or 10 comprises the outer casing l l or 1 l and the innerbasket 12 or 12' so that the rotatably mounted inner basket 12 or 12thus constitutes only a portion of the container 10 or 10', it will beunderstood that in alternative embodiments (not shown) of the inventionsubstantially the entirety of the container 10 or 10' may be rotatablymounted. Thus in such alternative embodiments the basket 12 or 12 may beomitted with the casing 11 or 1 1' being rotatably mounted about theaxis 22 or 22', in which case, of course, the end of the duct 30 or 30'remote from the first control valve 25 or 25 is preferably coaxial withthe axis 22 or 22' with the casing 11 or 11 being rotatable relativethereto and relative to the end of the duct 31 or 31 remote from thesecond control valve 27 or 27. Furthermore, in such alternativeembodiments the duct 35 or 35 passes through the casing 11 or 11coaxially relative to the axis 22 or 22 with the vanes 24 or 24' beingpresented by the casing 11 or 11 internally thereof.

What I claim is:

1. Laundry apparatus comprising an enclosable, pressurizable containerwhich has a drain provided therein and at least a portion of which isrotatably mounted, members presented by said portion of the containerfor causing rotation thereof under the influence of a gas directedagainst said members, a source of gas external of the container, and agas supply system for supplying gas from said source thereof againstsaid members presented by said portion of the container to rotate saidportion of the container and for directing said gas from said memberspresented by said portion of the container into the pressurizablecontainer to increase static pressure therewithin for expulsion of abody of liquid from the container through the drain.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pres surizable containercomprises an outer casing in which the drain is provided, and an innerperforated basket which constitutes said portion of the container andwhich is rotatably mounted within the outer casing.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the I source of gas comprisesthe atmosphere.

4. Laundry apparatus comprising an enclosable, pressurizable containerwhich has a drain provided therein and at least a portion of which isrotatably mounted, members presented by said portion of the containerfor causing rotation thereof under the influence of a gas directedagainst said members, a first gas supply system for supplying gas fromthe upper portion of the interior of the container to the lower portionof the interior of the container, a source of gas external of thecontainer, and a second gas supply system for supplying gas from saidsource thereof against said members presented by said portion of thecontainer to rotate said portion of the container, and for directingsaid gas from said members presented by said portion of the containerinto the pressurizable container to increase static pressure therewithinfor expulsion of a body of liquid from the container through the drain.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the pressurizable containercomprises an outer casing in which the drain is provided, and an innerperforated basket which constitutes said portion of the container andwhich is rotatably mounted within the outer casing, said lower portionof the interior of the container being constituted by the lower portionof the interior of the perforated basket.

6. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first gas supply systemcomprises a gas blower, and the second gas supply system also comprisessaid gas blower, first and second control valves each of which has aninlet and an outlet being disposed upstream and downstream,respectively, of the gas blower with the inlet of the first controlvalve being selectively connectible to said upper portion of theinterior of the container or to said source external of the container,and with the outlet of the second control valve being selectivelyconnectible to said lower portion of the interior of the container orfor the supply of gas against said members, and the gas blower beingconnected between the outlet of the first control valve and the-inlet ofthe second control valve.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the first and second controlvalves each comprises a twoposition, solenoid operable valve.

8. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said members presented by thebasket are located adjacent to the bottom of the casing.

9. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said members presented by thebasket are located adjacent to the top of the casing.

10. Laundry apparatus comprising an enclosable, pressurizable outercasing having a drain provided therein, an inner perforated basket whichis rotatably mounted within the outer casing, vanes presented by thebasket for causing rotation thereof under the influence of air directedagainst said vanes, a first air supply system for supplying air from theupper portion of the interior of the casing to the lower portion of theinterior of the basket, and a second air supply system for directingatmospheric air against said vanes to rotate the basket, and fordirecting said atmospheric air from the vanes into the casing toincrease static pressure therewithin for expulsion ofa body of liquidfrom the casing through the drain, the first air supply systemcomprising an air blower, the second air supply system also comprisingsaid air blower, first and second control valves each of which has aninlet and an outlet being disposed upstream and downstream,respectively, of

the air blower with the inlet of the first control valve beingselectively connectible to said upper portion of the interior ofthecasing or to the atmosphere. and with the outlet of the second controlvalve being selectively connectible to the said lower portion of theinterior of the basket or for the supply of air against the vanes, andthe air blower being connected between the outlet of the first controlvalve and the inlet of the second control valve.

11. Method of laundering comprising supplying gas from a source thereofexternal of an enclosable, pressurizable container against memberspresented by at least a portion of the container to rotate said portionof the container, and directing said gas from said members presented bysaid portion of the container into the pressurizable container toincrease static pressure therewithin for expulsion of a body of liquidfrom the container through a drain provided therein.

12. Method according to claim 11, wherein the pressurizable containercomprises an outer casing in which the drain is provided, and an innerperforated basket which constitutes said portion of the container andwhich is rotatably mounted within the outer casing.

13. Method according to claim 11, wherein the source of gas comprisesthe atmosphere.

14. Method of laundering comprising the steps of selectively supplyinggas from the upper portion of the interior of an enclosable,pressurizable container to the lower portion of the interior of thecontainer, or supplying gas from a source thereof external of thepressurizable container against members presented by at least a portionof the container to rotate said portion of the container, and directingsaid gas from said members presented by said portion of the containerinto the pressurizable container to increase static pressure therewithinfor expulsion of a body of liquid from the container through a drainprovided therein.

15. Method according to claim 14, wherein the pressurizable containercomprises an outer casing in which the drain is provided, and an innerperforated basket which constitutes said portion of the container andwhich is rotatably mounted within the outer casing, said lower portionof the interior of the container being constituted by the lower portionof the interior of the perforated basket.

16. Method according to claim 14, wherein said supplying of gas from theupper portion of the interior of the container to the lower portion ofthe interior of the container comprises supplying gas from the upperportion of the interior of the container through a first control valve,a gas blower, and a second control valve to the lower portion of theinterior of the container, and said supplying of gas from the sourcethereof against said members comprises supplying gas from the sourcethereof through said first control valve, said gas blower,

and said second control valve against said members.

1. Laundry apparatus comprising an enclosable, pressurizable containerwhich has a drain provided therein and at least a portion of which isrotatably mounted, members presented by said portion of the containerfor causing rotation thereof under the influence of a gas directedagainst said members, a source of gas external of the container, and agas supply system for supplying gas from said source thereof againstsaid members presented by said portion of the container to rotate saidportion of the container and for directing said gas from said memberspresented by said portion of the container into the pressurizablecontainer to increase static pressure therewithin for expulsion of abody of liquid from the container through the drain.
 2. Apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the pressurizable container comprises anouter casing in which the drain is provided, and an inner perforatedbasket which constitutes said portion of the container and which isrotatably mounted within the outer casing.
 3. Apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the source of gas comprises the atmosphere.
 4. Laundryapparatus comprising an enclosable, pressurizable container which has adrain provided therein and at least a portion of which is rotatablymounted, members presented by said portion of the container for causingrotation thereof under the influence of a gas directed against saidmembers, a first gas supply system for supplying gas from the upperportion of the interior of the container to the lower portion of theinterior of the container, a source of gas external of the container,and a second gas supply system for supplying gas from said sourcethereof against said members presented by said portion of the containerto rotate said portion of the container, and for directing said gas fromsaid members presented by said portion of the container into thepressurizable container to increase static pressure therewithin forexpulsion of a body of liquid from the container through the drain. 5.Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the pressurizable containercomprises an outer casing in which the drain is provided, and an innerperforated basket which constitutes said portion of the container andwhich is rotatably mounted within the outer casing, said lower portionof the interior of the container being constituted by the lower portionof the interior of the perforated basket.
 6. Apparatus according toclaim 4, wherein the first gas supply system comprises a gas blower, andthe second gas supply system also comprises said gas blower, first andsecond control valves each of which has an inlet and an outlet beingdisposed upstream and downstream, respectively, of the gas blower withthe inlet of the first control valve being selectively connectible tosaid upper portion of the interior of the container or to said sourceexternal of the container, and with the outlet of the second controlvalve being selectively connectible to said lower portion of theinterior of the container or for the supply of gas against said members,and the gas blower being connected betwEen the outlet of the firstcontrol valve and the inlet of the second control valve.
 7. Apparatusaccording to claim 6, wherein the first and second control valves eachcomprises a two-position, solenoid operable valve.
 8. Apparatusaccording to claim 2, wherein said members presented by the basket arelocated adjacent to the bottom of the casing.
 9. Apparatus according toclaim 2, wherein said members presented by the basket are locatedadjacent to the top of the casing.
 10. Laundry apparatus comprising anenclosable, pressurizable outer casing having a drain provided therein,an inner perforated basket which is rotatably mounted within the outercasing, vanes presented by the basket for causing rotation thereof underthe influence of air directed against said vanes, a first air supplysystem for supplying air from the upper portion of the interior of thecasing to the lower portion of the interior of the basket, and a secondair supply system for directing atmospheric air against said vanes torotate the basket, and for directing said atmospheric air from the vanesinto the casing to increase static pressure therewithin for expulsion ofa body of liquid from the casing through the drain, the first air supplysystem comprising an air blower, the second air supply system alsocomprising said air blower, first and second control valves each ofwhich has an inlet and an outlet being disposed upstream and downstream,respectively, of the air blower with the inlet of the first controlvalve being selectively connectible to said upper portion of theinterior of the casing or to the atmosphere, and with the outlet of thesecond control valve being selectively connectible to the said lowerportion of the interior of the basket or for the supply of air againstthe vanes, and the air blower being connected between the outlet of thefirst control valve and the inlet of the second control valve. 11.Method of laundering comprising supplying gas from a source thereofexternal of an enclosable, pressurizable container against memberspresented by at least a portion of the container to rotate said portionof the container, and directing said gas from said members presented bysaid portion of the container into the pressurizable container toincrease static pressure therewithin for expulsion of a body of liquidfrom the container through a drain provided therein.
 12. Methodaccording to claim 11, wherein the pressurizable container comprises anouter casing in which the drain is provided, and an inner perforatedbasket which constitutes said portion of the container and which isrotatably mounted within the outer casing.
 13. Method according to claim11, wherein the source of gas comprises the atmosphere.
 14. Method oflaundering comprising the steps of selectively supplying gas from theupper portion of the interior of an enclosable, pressurizable containerto the lower portion of the interior of the container, or supplying gasfrom a source thereof external of the pressurizable container againstmembers presented by at least a portion of the container to rotate saidportion of the container, and directing said gas from said memberspresented by said portion of the container into the pressurizablecontainer to increase static pressure therewithin for expulsion of abody of liquid from the container through a drain provided therein. 15.Method according to claim 14, wherein the pressurizable containercomprises an outer casing in which the drain is provided, and an innerperforated basket which constitutes said portion of the container andwhich is rotatably mounted within the outer casing, said lower portionof the interior of the container being constituted by the lower portionof the interior of the perforated basket.
 16. Method according to claim14, wherein said supplying of gas from the upper portion of the interiorof the container to the lower portion of the interior of the containercomprises supplying gas from the upper poRtion of the interior of thecontainer through a first control valve, a gas blower, and a secondcontrol valve to the lower portion of the interior of the container, andsaid supplying of gas from the source thereof against said memberscomprises supplying gas from the source thereof through said firstcontrol valve, said gas blower, and said second control valve againstsaid members.